Herbs for Asthma Treatment

"The desire to take medicine is one feature which distinguishes man, the animal, from his fellow creatures."
Sir William Osler (c.1900)

Herbal remedies for various ailments are popular because they are only a step removed from the drug/medicine paradigm that dominates medical care today. We tend to think of illness as an outside agent that has come into our healthy lives to make us miserable. Naturally we would appreciate another outside agent that we can simply take and make it all go away. People who are suspicious of the drug-centered style of modern medicine may think that herbs, being "natural", will confer the quick-and-easy benefits of drugs without the nasty side effects.

No doubt herbs can be useful but the case of herbal remedies for asthma is a textbook example of the dangers of simplistic thinking.

Once upon a time, asthma was a rare disease and probably sporadic. People lived rougher lives, there was more physical stress than emotional. So the Chinese in Asia, and the settlers in the West learned that Ephedra (ephedra sinica, e.oficinalis, also called Squaw tea or Mormon tea) could often help an ashthmatic or someone with breathing difficulties. Since the action of ephedra is nervous stimulation with secondary effects of adrenal stimulation, it kicks the adrenals into pumping out more of the body's hormones— adrenaline and cortisol— which naturally control inflammation. Side effects of this herb are nervous stimulation, increased blood pressure, disturbed sleep and possible mental agitation. Disturbed sleep is definitely detrimental to asthmatic health. This is okay for sporadic asthma problems, or when 100 years ago, there was nothing else but prayer. Perhaps in some cases, ephedra bought time for the patient's "inner doctor" to bring the organism back into balance.

The other, maybe greater, problem of ephedra and all stimulants, is the rebound effect. What goes up must come down. The body tends to bounce back from any stimulant, often to a lower state of energy. Chronic stimulant use yo-yos the system up and down. As repeated stimulation desensitizes the all-important receptors, the lows get lower. Repeated stimulation may also deplete any of the many nutrients and co-factors the adrenals need to produce hormones.

Any herbal (book) or herbalist who recommends Ephedra for asthma without considerable warning is one to stay away from.

In scientific literature there is consistent positive mention of Licorice (glycorrhiza glabra) as a potent anti-inflammatory that may have beneficial effect for asthmatics. Capsaicin, the active (hot) ingredient in hot peppers is a proven potent antiinflammatory that may have application in asthma. Turmeric also has proven anti-inflammatory effects.

At the end of the day, if you are eating donuts, drinking cokes and watching TV, no combination of herbs will control asthma for you. On the other hand, by making healthy changes in your life, you may well be able to control asthma without the aid of herbs or drugs. If you do wish to take herbs for asthma, be sure to consult a smart practitioner and educate yourself thoroughly.